^If not for massive public involvement (highway policy, housing projects, section 8, etc. etc.) Over-the-Rhine wouldn't have declined in the first place.

 

OTR was declining before government intervention. The influx of Appalachians, followed by the movement of individuals from the crowded slums of OTR (it was nothing like it is today) to 'greener pastures' was what started the downfall of OTR. Interstate highways, only constructed in the late 1960s, hastened this process. Government housing -- originally designed to house the massive influx of World War II vets and later the low-income, hastened this process.

 

And, by the way, the free market runs from Over-the-Rhine (as it did for 50 years). If not for massive public involvement, the transformation that is occuring now would not have happened.

 

Exactly right.  The free market is a figment of our imaginations.

 

Every economist will disagree with that. A pure free market, left unchecked and unregulated, is a determent to society and to the economy that it is designed to serve. A pure socialistic, government-mandated market, fully regulated, is also a determent. A balance needs to be achieved.

 

I have not, nor have I ever, advocated for the pure free market example. I gave numerous instances of where the free market can work to the benefit of all -- the low-income and to those who seek the new digs in the Quarter and elsewhere. You need a positive ROI and profit. You need investment, and that won't occur without a positive ROI and profit. Banks don't lend to developers who lose money. Foundations won't donate or loan money to corporations that can't demonstrate that their project will lead to profit.

 

If you fill a building with low-income tenants in a desirable area, you won't generate either +ROI or profit. There is no way to generate enough income on meager leases or sales to offset the cost of the property acquisition and renovation. That is why most properties have elevated prices. Once you move away from the most desirable properties -- those near to downtown, then have lower land costs and you can install affordable-housing units that are integrated within market-rate units that can still generate +ROI and profit.

 

Do you still need government intervention? Yes. But to what extent? If the government can get a better bang for the buck with 3CDC and get a +ROI, then the government will readily loan money to 3CDC.

Here are some Over The Rhine Notes from Saturday.

 

Walk One: Vine Street

 

A second walk in OTR.  This time I walked up Vine past the Kroger, then turned east on 15th then worked my way south on and along Walnut.

 

I noticed that Miami University has some sort of storefront studio on Vine.  Not sure what that is about.  Things are pretty rough north of 14th,, which seems to be the limit of the Gateway Quarter action.  The Kroger seems to have had a facelift, though.  Historic marker in front notes that OTR was the birthplace of the Kroger chain.

 

There are a lot of black people on the street, a little intimidating.  I walk by quickly.  Fairly active streetlife here, probably because of the Kroger.  One of the things that is noticeable about OTR is the streetcorner society, knots of people hanging out, pedestrian traffic, etc.

 

I wonder how the 3CDC work on this block is going to change the scene here.  It seems there is a weird yuppie/hipster/ghetto thing going on in this neighborhood.  I wonder if the idea is to totally clear out the blacks or to have a mix of poor and hipster/yupscale in the neighborhood.

 

I turn east on 15th.

 

At 15th and Walnut I notice this old briar woman bringing in her laundry.  Thought that was odd as I thought the Appalachians are long gone from OTR.  Instead I notice by a sign that this is a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality.  I knew CW was in Cincy just didn’t know where.  Apparently she was a resident.

 

One thing I observe is that the cross streets seem more intimate for some reason.  Maybe narrower or the houses are at smaller scale.

 

Across the street is Graemmers (sp).  It barely looks occupied and the vacant lot to the side has what looks like some sort of patio.  The back/side of the place looked like it was almost in ruins.  I seem to recall this place had re-opened, but it must be for very limited hours.

 

Walking south on Walnut I notice Mercer Street and turn down it.  This street is blocked off on the Vine side by construction, but the tenements closer to Walnut seem to be all condemned or vacated.  They all have official notices on them.  One thing ihat is noticeable is that the urban fabric of tenements and houses has eroded away.  There seems to be midblock empty space in this part of OTR, and things like attempts at community gardens or vest pocket parks.

 

I then follow the narrow cobblestone alley between Mercer and 13th.  The alleys of OTR are maybe threatened? I noticed some of them going to seed, overgrown or obscured in various ways. 

 

The buildings on the northwest corner of Walnut and 13th seem to be “Catfish Row”.  Knots of people hanging out in front.  I was by here last time and noticed people looking down out of the windows.  There seemed to be a bit of energy around this corner.

 

I continue south to ren dez vouz with my partner at the coffeeshop in the Emery.  Speaking of the Emery Theatre, is it closed?  If so, why? 

 

Walk Two:  Main Street.

 

I leave my partner and the car on Main near some theater.  This would be near 12th and Main, and walk north looking for that coffeeshop Sherman mentioned.

 

Main seems dead.  This is around noon, maybe a bit after.  There is a knot of people in front of a store on the e. side of Main and my partner turns back..bad vibes for him.  I continue on.  Not much on this street.  Not even as much streetlife as on Vine.  Occasional people walking around.

 

Cross Main and then dip back to Clay, via either Melindy Street or 14th.  Again I note the somewhat pleasant character of the side streets.  Some buildings even have flower boxes. Walking down Clay I note the backs of the Main Street buildings, the sort of tenement court feeling.

 

Heading back to Main, heading south, I am taken by how intact this street is.  A fairly solid streetwall looking south.  No gaps due to parking lots, demolitions, etc. 

 

I find the coffeeshop, Iris Coffeeshop.  I seem to recall this was an art gallery at one time in the past.  Now its filled with books, for sale, cheap.  I liked the backrooms with the little side garden.  Very pleasant.

 

Continue to ren-dez-vous with my partner.  He tells me that when he was standing outside the car having a smoke some guy asked him if he wanted to buy some crack, and then asked him why he was standing around after he said he didn’t.  We sort of had a laugh about that, singing that “drug dealing song” from “Rent” on our way to Findlay Market.  Maybe this neighborhood is a bit like the fictionalized Alphabet City in Rent:  “Hey Artist, got a dollar?!”.  Don't know if there are many artists or creative types living here.  Gateway Quarter stuff would be too expensive for bohemians.

 

Next walk: exploring OTR west of Vine. I am going to take a note pad with next time to jot down impressions rather than try to remember them.

 

I noticed that Miami University has some sort of storefront studio on Vine.

 

MU Center for Engagement. I wrote about it just recently at my UrbanUp site --

http://urbanup.net/index.php?q=blog&id=108

 

I wonder how the 3CDC work on this block is going to change the scene here. It seems there is a weird yuppie/hipster/ghetto thing going on in this neighborhood. I wonder if the idea is to totally clear out the blacks or to have a mix of poor and hipster/yupscale in the neighborhood.

 

Some believe that the area will become full of yuppies and hipsters and that all of the low-income/homeless will be kicked out. Others believe that the area will become less crime ridden. Others believe that a mixture of market-based principles and government support is the key. All have differing opinions and ideas.

 

In 3CDC's fourth phase along the 1400 block of Vine, for instance, there is a healthy mixture of market-rate and subsidized apartments and condos -- a first for the Gateway Quarter due to the cost of renovations that have dictated higher markups to generate a positive ROI. It's not mass slum housing (Metropole in downtown), and it's not mass yuppie housing (e.g. rest of the Gateway Quarter), but a health mixture.

 

Across the street is Graemmers (sp). It barely looks occupied and the vacant lot to the side has what looks like some sort of patio. The back/side of the place looked like it was almost in ruins. I seem to recall this place had re-opened, but it must be for very limited hours.

 

Nope -- http://www.grammers.net/index pretty interesting hangout.

 

Walking south on Walnut I notice Mercer Street and turn down it. This street is blocked off on the Vine side by construction, but the tenements closer to Walnut seem to be all condemned or vacated. They all have official notices on them.   One thing ihat is noticeable is that the urban fabric of tenements and houses has eroded away. There seems to be midblock empty space in this part of OTR, and things like attempts at community gardens or vest pocket parks.

 

This will be home to Mercer Commons, so this area will change drastically in the next year.

 

I then follow the narrow cobblestone alley between Mercer and 13th. The alleys of OTR are maybe threatened? I noticed some of them going to seed, overgrown or obscured in various ways.

 

I believe Ink'lin did a post about this.

 

The buildings on the northwest corner of Walnut and 13th seem to be “Catfish Row”. Knots of people hanging out in front. I was by here last time and noticed people looking down out of the windows.   There seemed to be a bit of energy around this corner.

 

One of the more dangerous corners in the southern half of OTR still. They had a huge drug bust there last year, and two large busts at that corner this year. Renovation projects continue along Vine and Main, but they kind of skip over Walnut.

 

I continue south to ren dez vouz with my partner at the coffeeshop in the Emery. Speaking of the Emery Theatre, is it closed? If so, why?

 

When the Emery Apartments were renovated, they conducted basic work at the theater -- which closed a while back. The rusty, unstable fire escapes on the exterior were removed and some basic work was completed to stabilize the property. The theater is slowly being restored and there are events held there periodically by Give Back Cincinnati and through Larry Schwab. I live in the Emery, you should give a hollar next time you are down!

 

Did a write up on the building and theater --

http://urbanup.net/index.php?catid=520

 

I find the coffeeshop, Iris Coffeeshop. I seem to recall this was an art gallery at one time in the past. Now its filled with books, for sale, cheap. I liked the backrooms with the little side garden. Very pleasant.

 

It's coming back after being decimated by the 2001 riots. Iris is one of my favorite cafes in the city.

 

Maybe this neighborhood is a bit like the fictionalized Alphabet City in Rent: “Hey Artist, got a dollar?!”. Don't know if there are many artists or creative types living here. Gateway Quarter stuff would be too expensive for bohemians.

 

For now. Many of the apartments that were renovated back in the 1990s during the Main Street boom are being converted into condos (e.g. Belmain).

I noticed that Miami University has some sort of storefront studio on Vine.

 

MU Center for Engagement. I wrote about it just recently at my UrbanUp site --

http://urbanup.net/index.php?q=blog&id=108

 

Try the real link:

 

http://arts.muohio.edu/cce/

 

There are a lot of black people on the street, a little intimidating. I walk by quickly.

 

 

Just because someone is of a different race or ethnicity than you doesn't mean they're going to kill you, rob you or are even trying to intimidate you.  Everyone for the most part minds their own business--I'm getting tired of reading sentences like this.

 

Also, if you're going to come down here with a notebook and a pencil like you're on some kind of safari I don't think I'm alone in saying I'd rather not have you down here at all.

 

There are a lot of black people on the street, a little intimidating. I walk by quickly.

 

 

Just because someone is of a different race or ethnicity than you doesn't mean they're going to kill you, rob you or are even trying to intimidate you. Everyone for the most part minds their own business--I'm getting tired of reading sentences like this.

 

Also, if you're going to come down here with a notebook and a pencil like you're on some kind of safari I don't think I'm alone in saying I'd rather not have you down here at all.

 

I second that.

 

I appreciate the observations made during an urban exploration, but saying that people hanging out in their own neighborhood is intimidating is overboard.  Next time you see a group of black people, instead of walking by quickly, try nodding your head and saying hello.  I do this all the time.  After all, this is the Midwest.  And yes, you will get a few "mind your own businesses" but 9 times out of 10 it's usually a friendly hello back.

Third.

 

I've walked through these areas several times the past week during my lunch. Just today I was in the area to pick-up a "No on 9" sign and had a brief, yet intelligent conversation with a black man about Issue 9. This was on 14th St.

 

The only time I've ever been "bothered" was last Friday at 13th & Vine by an early 30's white woman asking for spare change.

Jeff is the Bill Cuntingham of UO. He knew what he was doing before he posted it, you just have to ignore it - not acknowledge it.

Try the real link:

 

http://arts.muohio.

 

...from the link:

 

The uniqueness of the Center for Community Engagement is its relationship with the Over-the-Rhine People's Movement and other important organizations within the inner city of Cincinnati that struggle for human and racial right, and social justice. Accordingly, it is a site for learning and for producing knowledge that intersects with the needs and demands of a social movement. The Center privileges human and ecological needs as leading priorities in urban development, and challenges the profit motive as the dominant arbiter in urban social policy.

 

The Center's firm conviction is that such learning in support of broader community transformation is best served by direct social engagement. Part of the Center's mission is to create a "community of practices" that generates learning and knowledge based upon social participation within a cultural community of color. These activities enable faculty and students to experience the realities of race and class first hand, which are not usually encountered by many students who, owing to their backgrounds, rarely get closer to the study of inner city life than what they read in a textbook. Such experiences are not reproducible on Miami's Oxford campus.

 

 

I wonder if OTR is the long-term place for this given the ongoing work of 3CDC.  This initiative could be looking for a new home if gentrification really takes off.

 

Renovation projects continue along Vine and Main, but they kind of skip over Walnut.

 

There was some sort of contextual iinfill project on the east side of Walnut, north of 13th, that predates the 3CDC stuff.  I noticed it the last time I was there.

 

One of the more dangerous corners in the southern half of OTR still. They had a huge drug bust there last year, and two large busts at that corner this year. Renovation projects continue along Vine and Main, but they kind of skip over Walnut.

 

Yep, this confirms what I was sensing around that corner.  This would be a good strategic gentrification project to take-out a hot spot:  Aquire the buildings and do a 3CDC style renovation.  This would help change the vibe of that corner.

 

 

"There are a lot of black people on the street, a little intimidating.  I walk by quickly. "

 

LOL...afraid of getting mugged jeffery?

^ That's nothing. You should've seen the gang I ran into on the way to Grammer's the other night. All sorts of colors.

 

I actually took a stroll in OTR today at lunch.  Did some wndow shopping and actually bought a few things at Outside. The progress in the Gateway Quarter is simply remarkable. Its a bit of a mess w/ all the costruction and lingering streetscape work but every time I go, there is more and more that I am impressed and excited with.  Oh and I talked to a few black people; I was amazed they were willing to talk back to me.  Just amazing.

^ That's nothing. You should've seen the gang I ran into on the way to Grammer's the other night. All sorts of colors.

 

 

Yeah, if you think Walnut has its bad parts, you really don't want to end up in the little known Dutch enclave on Sesamstraat between 14th and 15th Streets.

Or Lang and E. Clifton ;-)

Senate Restaurant has new pics up on their Facebook page and the interious looks pretty sweet.  It sounds like they have completed construction on the interior so the opening can be too far off now. 

It's looking amazing! This kind of thing really helps one visualize a bustling Vine, with places like this going for blocks.

The buildings next to the infill project on the east side of 14th & Vine are being renovated as part of the larger Model Group development known as Trinity Flats.  The exteriors are painted and restored, and look absolutely incredible.

C.A.R. Construction's latest project in OTR celebrates history, passion

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/1027carconstruction.aspx

By Randy A. Simes | Soapbox Cincinnati, October 27, 2009

 

Since 2004, C.A.R. Construction has been working throughout the city of Cincinnati on commercial and residential projects.  The latest project from the family owned business includes a new three bedroom loft space in the heart of Over-the-Rhine.

 

"It's really a story about two brothers working together to transform this space," said Chris Reckman owner of C.A.R, who developed the space with his brother. The Reckman's father is also a developer in the downtown area.

 

The former warehouse at 22 E. 14th Street that the Reckman brothers have been working on now boasts a first floor, five-car garage and 2,300 square feet of finished living space.  Also incorporated into the project is a green roof that incorporates a variety of recycled materials.

 

Chris says that the building was attractive because of its secure parking options on the first floor.  The run-down warehouse space inside also provided a host of design opportunities for the now large loft living space.

 

With the 22 E. 14th Street loft now complete, the Reckman brothers are looking to move on to their next project in the neighborhood.  On tap is the building next door that will eventually include six units that the Reckman's hope to have ready by Spring 2010.

 

"We own five more properties in Over-the-Rhine, and we want to do more of the same," said Chris.

 

The redevelopment work by the Reckman brothers in Over-the-Rhine represents just a small bit of the wealth of redevelopment projects that have been taking place in the neighborhood.  Much of the work has been through the larger efforts from the Center Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation, but smaller-scale efforts like this seem to be taking hold.

 

"Chris Reckman is just another local entrepreneur looking to make a difference in Over-the-Rhine," said Michael Redmond, owner of Neon's Unplugged on 12th Street.  "The investment in the neighborhood is starting to become contagious; and that's a really good thing."

 

Dandridge Studio Townhomes open in Pendleton to great fanfare

http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/1103dandridgestudio.aspx

By Randy A. Simes | Soapbox Cincinnati, November 3, 2009

 

As Over-the-Rhine continues its redevelopment push with new residents, businesses and amenities, so does the often over-looked Pendleton neighborhood next door.

 

While much of the progress can be seen along Reading Road where most of the industrial buildings have now been restored, six new townhomes located on Dandridge Street a few blocks north indicate a larger impact that is being felt throughout Pendleton.

 

The Dandridge Studio Townhomes project is one that has been in the making for several years now, but is a project that has been long anticipated by neighborhood residents and supporters.

 

"The people in Pendleton were so excited for the groundbreaking," said Jeanne Golliher, executive director with Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF).  "We wanted to help make sure this project got finished."

 

CDF was able to do just that by providing a much needed $541,000 loan for construction funds that complimented the other funds being used to complete the project.  The loan was a bit unusual for CDF - the organization used its own money to fund the project instead of coordinating financing.  Golliher says that in CDF's 21-year history, this is a first.

 

"We normally put together loan money from a variety of sources in a way that allows for banks to participate in otherwise higher risk loans by reducing their risk," said Golliher.

 

CDF's direct loan helped push the Dandridge Studio Townhomes towards completion and will allow for some of their money to stay in the project even after its completion by offering a second mortgage for home buyers so that they can choose to borrow up to 10 percent of the home value with zero percent interest.

 

"Our whole mission is to revitalize urban communities," said Golliher.  "The Dandridge Studio Townhomes project is absolutely 100 percent what our mission is all about, and the risk involved is well worth it."

 

Priced from $165,900 to $199,900, the homes feature a ten year tax abatement, balconies, open floor plans, secure parking, and no HOA fees according to Comey & Shepherd Realtors.  To schedule a walk through please contact Cathy Frank at (513) 478-1296.

 

The buildings next to the infill project on the east side of 14th & Vine are being renovated as part of the larger Model Group development known as Trinity Flats. The exteriors are painted and restored, and look absolutely incredible.

 

agree. I love the re-use of the old post office (which was essentially little more than a facade) and the Italianate building south of it with the blue trim. 

Yeah, the doors and windows have been installed in the old post office. I toured the green painted building (almost a dead-on from 14th) and it is quite nice with a HUGE back deck that is to die for.

pictures please!

These are from jmecklenborg:

 

 

The material in the lower part of the corner post is a bit cheap-looking, but otherwise it's shaping up well:

The corner space above will be the new sales center for the Q

Ooh, those balconies cast some massive shadows.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  The street looks fantastic regardless.  I'm so thrilled with the progress down there. 

The corner space above will be the new sales center for the Q

 

What happens to the current sales center?

Does anybody know when the Senate is going to open?  It was supposed to be Fall 09 which is quickly coming to a close.

I heard that Terry from Terry's Turf Club is selling his business, but the restaurant/bar will continue as normal.  Also, I believe Senate is one of his endeavors.

Does anybody know when the Senate is going to open? It was supposed to be Fall 09 which is quickly coming to a close.

 

Any day now. 

 

Also, City Roots is closing their retail location.  The owner, Lisa, has a landscaping business and the retail store was taking up too much of her time.

^Well, that and City Roots didn't really have set store hours.  So it makes it difficult to patronage a business like that.

Article has been significantly updated since the original post.

 

Post-prison center idea rankles Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine

‘Re-entry’ program would be close to school

By Lucy May, Business Courier of Cincinnati, December 3, 2009

 

City officials and community leaders are bracing to fight a Pennsyl­vania company’s proposal to develop a residential program for federal offenders just a few blocks from the new School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Over-the-Rhine.

 

In a letter to Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher, Firetree Ltd. wrote that the company has submitted an offer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide re-entry center services at 1507 Elm St. Cincinnati Public Schools’ new $72 million SCPA campus sits on 12th Street between Elm and Race streets.

^There needs to be a new social services moratorium OTR. I don't care how unfair, unconstitutional or politically incorrect that is. Put this shit in Queensgate.

Lots of construction equipment is now set up along Vine Street on the 1400 block where 3CDC is really turning up the heat on their next wave of rehabs there.  These will all be apartments, and the restoration efforts look very exciting as they combine many smaller buildings with interior connections.

I think the proposed location was the Samuel Bell home for the blind, just south of the Elm Street Health Clinic.  It is a 1970s single story building.  It has been vacant for about 5 years.  I'm not sure what the heck this building could be used for seeing how it it fugly and non-historic and has very few windows.

Does anyone know when the apartments will come online? Will they do 6 month or month by month leases in case you decide to buy something? Also what will the price points be?

Will there be a webcam?

you can watch my webcam so it goes. 

Have they raised the core yet? Is there a web-cam? When will the web-site be updated!?

you can watch my webcam so it goes. 

 

you are one big homo

Look, it's obvious that more social services don't need to be in our marquee neighborhood but Queensgate is missing key transportation assets to make it viable.  The only other neighborhood that I could see taking these people in is Avondale.  Which also has it's own massive set of problems, in short, this project project needs it's own transportation tied to it.  However, I'm not generally in favor of treating ex offenders as second class citizens.

There are bus lines that run through Queensgate. They can hop on that to their destination. I'd rather have crime not increase in my neighborhood, since it is already damn high because of the multitude of social service agencies.

"OTR is a good place for social services because of its access and convenience."

-This is far less a complement to OTR than a damnation of every other neighborhood in greater Cincinnati. Every community should have resources and an economy that is accessible to a wide range of users.

 

"We shouldn't treat the least among us as second-class citizens."

-There is an entire swath of population in the metro area who are de-facto second class citizens because they can't operate or can't afford a car. They certainly aren't felons.

 

This is the bigger issue, and the issue that advocates of the poor should really be focusing on.

 

There are bus lines that run through Queensgate. They can hop on that to their destination. I'd rather have crime not increase in my neighborhood, since it is already damn high because of the multitude of social service agencies.

 

But the answer isn't just to move them all to another single neighborhood.  Just saying, "Oh, Queensgate's got some bus access"--that's not good enough.

^But it's good enough for OTR?

^But it's good enough for OTR?

 

I never said that.  In fact, that was absolutely my point:  that concentration is unacceptable...for ANY neighborhood/district/community.

When you have those services throughout several neighborhoods in the region, it's no longer important that the buses all cover one area adequately.  In fact, the more destinations, the better.  That way, one can access those services anywhere from the downtown hub.

Wait, you think convicted felons should have preferred residence in the city? I think that the market should bear what goes in OTR -- not out-of-state corporations that certainly do not have the best of interest of the city in mind. Any reasonable corporation and individual would think that placing convicted felons next to a mass of homeless and instable people -- near the highest crime rates in the city and near a soon-to-be-opening school for children, a bad idea.

 

They don't deserve a downtown hub. They are convicted felons. They can be placed in a cinder block building in Queensgate for all that I care -- it's along a bus line that goes to downtown. Good enough for them.

Wait, you think convicted felons should have preferred residence in the city? I think that the market should bear what goes in OTR -- not out-of-state corporations that certainly do not have the best of interest of the city in mind. Any reasonable corporation and individual would think that placing convicted felons next to a mass of homeless and instable people -- near the highest crime rates in the city and near a soon-to-be-opening school for children, a bad idea.

 

They don't deserve a downtown hub. They are convicted felons. They can be placed in a cinder block building in Queensgate for all that I care -- it's along a bus line that goes to downtown. Good enough for them.

 

I believe you're misconstruing each of my responses.  I never said anything about having to have social services concentrated near downtown.  At all.  I said nothing about giving felons to choice on where to live.  We're not even talking about felons!  We're talking about the poor, the mentally challenged/deranged/unfit/whatever, rehabilitated drug addicts...it really doesn't matter.  You're simply bending my words, and going on a tangent.

 

The point I made twice supported deconcentration, but I emphasized that doing so would actually make these services MORE accessible, via access from the downtown transit hub.  Again, I used "downtown hub" in relation to access by bus.  I also preceded that by locating services in SEVERAL neighborhoods.

 

Seriously, Sherman...over the past few months, you've just been vicious.  I just want you to respond to the actual post, rather than responding to a story you heard in your head.  It's unnerving, and it makes me think twice about posting in threads with topics pertaining to minorities or low-income people.  Again, you're vicious and relentless in those topics, and unnecessarily so.  Could we please simply discuss projects, instead of vilifying certain demographics ad nauseam?